Commonly diagnosed, but often mistreated – Severs disease.

Heel pain in active children is incredibly common. The likely cause in 8-14 year old boys and girls is Sever’s disease. Fortunately it sounds worse than it is.

In medical terminology, it is a traction apophysitis of the calcaneal attachment of the Achilles tendon. In other words, the Achilles attachment to the heel bone in young children is cartilage. Through the growth phase into puberty, this cartilage attachment is transitioning into a tendon-bone attachment, but through different stages of development can be weaker than others. Those ‘weaker’ stages coincide with growth and poorer mechanics, as well as increasing amounts of sport for children. So the ‘weaker’ attachment is overloaded and becomes inflamed. Eventually, the attachment matures, somewhere between 12-14 years of age but, in the interim, what can be done to help?

First and foremost, rest is rarely a great fix for active boys and girls. Treat the inflammation with regular ice after activity and find a load (amount of sport) that one can tolerate.

Most importantly, improve the mechanics of the entire leg. The better the mechanics, the less overload. This may include better shoes or boots, specific exercises, calf flexibility (massage and stretch), orthotics and other management strategies.

A good assessment and a management plan is essential.

The message is important – Sever’s disease CAN be improved!

You can have less pain and better function with the right management. Make sure you see a practitioner who is involved in sports.

At Medical for Everybody our management of severs that is related to  a childs biomechanics is proven and successful. Andrew, our podiatrist, conducts regular Footwear Assessments and is able to analyse children’s gait with great precision.

If you want to find out more, call Medical for Everybody in Chirnside Park on 8727 0000 or in Aspendale Gardens on 9590 9955 and make a time to see Andrew White.